Appealed ESA - how long should it take for a decision?

pyrolizzie

In Sheffield it is taking over 13 weeks for the decision to be looked at again. My OH appealed being put in the WRAG group on 20 August and althou he received an acknowledgement in early September, we have heard nothing further despite numerous telephone calls and no one can tell us how much longer it will take. Have just written to our MP so will wait and see whether he can assist. All this waiting is making my OH illness worse with all the stress and worry.

shykins

quite agree. i had my interview in January and it wasnt til Sept that i heard they had relooked at it. still turned down and am now awaiting the appeal date. i doubt this will be before xmas so that will then be a year!!

we have no money coming in other than the basic ESA. after turning me down they removed my DLA in april and subsequently my husbands carers allowance

my symptoms are getting worse and i am sure all the worry about no money and waiting for the appeal is not helping

i wrote to my MP but have had no response so still we wait!!!

Widelats

Hope you both get results then, i had a tribunal today, doctor asked me the most ridiculous questions possible, like how do i put a wolly hat on, how do i do my fly up (i wear jogging pants with no zip), how many times i go shopping per week, and to make it worse i had a guy representing me sat next to me, who kept his mouth totally shut the entire time, not sure if he was crap or if thats what they do????

Anyway, was refused again, getting real tired of it all and i may go claim JSA to get away from all this crap, ESA and these doctors are a joke.

pyrolizzie

After months of chasing eventually got to know that OHs case has been looked at again but no change to decision and it will now go to appeal in around 9 to 12 months by which time his ESA will have run out.

It is really strange that at 11.30am when I chased it this morning there was nothing on file to say the case had been reviewed but at 12 noon they rang and left a message on our voicemail at home, despite been told to ring my mobile, to say no change to decision. I rang back, and was told there was a note on the record to this effect.

I don't think anyone has really looked at my OH's case properly, and have just referred it to the tribunal, probably because they are fed up of been chased every week for a reply - which I was told to do by DWP office.

shykins

lizzie similar thing happened to me. oh it will take a month but next day phone call!! as u say did they even look at it or just turn it down again to save them the trouble. makes u wonder

will be a year in about 5 weeks for me and still no tribunal date. we will have no money at all if they take the ESA away so not sure what will happen then

pyrolizzie

shykins

Sorry to hear that. I do hope you get a tribunal date soon.

I suppose we are a little more fortunate as I still work, however, it costs a lot more to live when you are disabled and my OH has a physio come out to him each week (which we have to pay for as NHS won't) and the ESA only just covers that cost. Without the physio he would not be able to do anything, she is just about keeping him mobile and keeping him motivated, so god knows how the so called decision makers can decide that he can work without even assessing him in person.

Had a reply from our MP today who has taken some more details and says he will look into it for us - will keep you posted.

pyrolizzie

Just to let you know, out MP wrote to DWP and within 5 days we got a call from a decision maker who was really helpful and she said she had looked at my husband's case again and said it was very clear that his condition is progressive and will never get much better and that he should be in the support group not the wrag group and that she had now moved him to the support group.

So to anyone who is having to wait for a review or who has had a review but benefit not changed and is now waiting for an appeal, I would recommend that you get in touch with your local MP and briefly explain the situation - the easiest way to do this is by e-mail.

It would appear that where the GP, Consultants & Physio's have no clout in cases like this, MPs most certainly do.

Give it a try - you have nothing to lose.

Best of Luck to everyone else with their appeals.

shykins

lizzie am very pleased for u... well done. so glad u dont have to go thru anymore worry etc

have written to my MP but no response maybe i should chase him again as been told my appeal wont be til at least february which will be more than a year after my assessment

pyrolizzie

shykins

I would chase your MP at least once a week until you get a response and he/she writes to DWP on your behalf.

Good luck

RazWaz

I appealed 6 months ago, and I've just had a letter telling me I'll get my tribunal date in 13 weeks. So it's taking a long time at the moment.

Medical in Feb, decision in June, Reconsideration in November, now waiting for Tribunal.